Lubomyr Melnyk set to release new album Fallen Trees, listen to first single ‘Son of Parasol’

26 October 2018

Just as he turns 70, extraordinary pianist and composer Lubomyr Melnyk is back with a new album called Fallen Trees, arriving on December 7th through Erased Tapes. As with previous efforts, Fallen Trees remains laced with the environment, taking inspiration from a rail journey Melnyk made through Europe, where while looking out the window, he caught sight of trees that had just been felled. They looked “glorious” to him. “Even though they’d been killed, they weren’t dead. There was something sorrowful there, but also hopeful.”  This dark and melancholic yet bright and promising feel permeates the album in equal parts.

To bring the album to life, Melnyk enlisted Erased Tapes founder Robert Raths as producer. Fallen Trees also features guest contributions from vocal artist Hatis Noit, cellist Anne Müller, and singer David Allred.  “More than any of the albums that I’ve done”, described Melnyk, “it’s a real collaboration.”

The magnificent ‘Son of Parasol’ is the first single to emerge and you can listen to it now.

 

Joseph Shabason collaborates with Gigi Masin on new single ‘November’

25 October 2018

Last month we heard the poignantly beautiful ‘Forest Run’, the first single from Joseph Shabason‘s upcoming album Anne. The Toronto based composer and multi-instrumentalist has shared a second single called ‘November’, which saw him collaborate with Italian ambient composer Gigi Masin of Gaussian Curve. Gigi describes this collaboration:

“Writing music together without actually being in the same room it’s pretty easy these days. However, by doing so you can often lose something in the process: the human touch. I’m a firm believer that the human touch is indispensable, certain situations work much better when that’s considered. This is exactly what happened with Joseph – a talented person, also a very patient one who’s been able to endure my constant giving advice and to translate our humanity into music, especially our different points of view. A beautiful and rare thing.”

Shabason also had this to say:

“About four years ago my friend Graeme told me to listen to the album Wind by Gigi Masin. Listening to Wind was one of those musical moments where you feel like you’re listening to something that you’ve been waiting for all your life.”

Now take a listen to ‘November’.

Anne is out on November 16th through Western Vinyl.

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2018: Sibusile Xaba

25 October 2018

There’s just two weeks to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.

Sibusile Xaba

Official Website

Performing Friday 9th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Shabaka Hutchings

With a mesmerizing voice, and guitar skills to match, Sibusile Xaba is one of the artists we’re most looking forward to seeing. The South African guitarist, songwriter and composer will bring to Le Guess Who? last year’s Unlearning /Open Letter to Adoniah, his otherworldly and moving debut double album, rooted in jazz and improvisation, inspired by dreams and paired with spirituality and ancestral invocation. When we asked Sibusile for his picks at the festival, he found it “challenging” to narrow it down to 3 from so many of his favourites. So here’s 4 of his recommendations:

 

Sourakata Koite

Performing Sunday 11th November at Theater Kikker

“Ever since I heard his sound/music I loved it, his tone and approach was very unique.
His instrument sounds very different, this draws me more to his music. “

 

BCUC

Bandcamp

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Shabaka Hutchings

“These are my homeboys and homegirl, I love their music, I think they are fantastic and they’re gonna rock Le Guess Who?”

 

Hello Skinny

Bandcamp

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg

“This brother right here is one cat I’m looking forward to hopefully working with in the future, he plays the drums just like his personality, super cool brother. Im a big fan of his composition skills as well. Amazing amazing amazing.”

 

Nicole Mitchell

Official Website

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg

“My friend Lesedi Ntsane who is a great trumpet player based in the USA introduced me to her music. Something about her music is godly.”

Le Guess Who? will take place 8-11 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And take a look at other artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.

Eric Chenaux shares new track ‘3 Stars On Mountain of Doom’ for Richard Youngs

24 October 2018

Photo: JB Deucher

Eric Chenaux and Richard Youngs have crossed paths many a time. And it’s no surprise that the latest marvellous track to emerge from Chenaux, ‘3 Stars On Mountain of Doom’, serves as a tribute to Youngs. Chenaux explains:

“‘3 Stars On Mountain of Doom’ was recorded for Richard Youngs’ 50th Birthday for a limited edition of 1 compilation CD entitled 50 Years Of Youngs, curated by Madeleine Hynes. This recording is a montage-set inspired by Richard’s 3 Stars CDR and his wonderful song ‘Mountain of Doom.'”

Take a listen now.

Booker Stardrum’s second album Temporary etc. out this Friday

23 October 2018

Photo: Emma Rae Norton

The drumming wizard that is Booker Stardrum is back with a new album, three years on from the release of his phenomenal debut solo album, Dance And, which was one of our Picks of 2015. Entitled Temporary etc., the new record was engineered, produced and mixed by Deerhoof’s John Dieterich. Much in demand as a percussionist, Stardrum has recorded and performed with several other bands and projects, including Cloud Becomes Your Hand, Landlady, Lee Ranaldo, Weyes Blood, Nels Cline, Arian Shafiee, VaVatican, and many more. This multitude of experiences and influences has helped shaped his music and define the “wide range of techniques and ideas into his compositions, yielding a highly personal amalgamation of electro-acoustics, minimalism, ambient, jazz, and contemporary experimental electronic music”, as the press release explains.

Temporary etc. is out this Friday 26th through NNA Tapes and if you don’t know why you need this record in your life, check out two album tracks below, ‘Drim Dram II’ and ‘Swimming’. ‘Drim Dram II’ is a sequel to the original piece from 2015’s Dance And and it comes with a video by Miranda Javid.

Suuns share new video for ‘X-ALT’ as European tour dates commence

21 October 2018

With four excellent albums under their belt, including one of our Album Picks of 2016, Suuns have been touring relentlessly in both Europe and North America in recent years. After a tour earlier this year coinciding with the release of their fourth album Felt, the quartet are back on the road, playing several dates in European cities, including a show in Porto at Maus Hábitos on October 30th.
A new tour calls for celebration and Suuns have shared a new video for ‘X-ALT’ made by Montreal-based director Laura Gonçalves. She comments on it:

“X-ALT is like the amusement & attraction of movement, speed and intensity. The effects were created by plastic and analog processes, establishing paradoxes between the park and the dance group footage. What we see are the raw results of the captures, no post-production effects were applied. The video evolves organically and uncontrollably into specular and datamoshing devices. Electronic clouds and multicolored echoes consume and burn on the musical ride.”

Here’s the video.


Felt is out now through Secretly Canadian.